The Wirehair Dachshund is one of three coat varieties within the Dachshund breed, the other two being the Smooth-haired and Long-haired Dachshunds. While all three varieties share the same basic body structure and proportions, the Wirehair variety is distinguished by its wiry coat and more robust, muscular build.

In terms of size, Wirehair Dachshunds are typically divided into two categories: standard and miniature. Standard Wirehair Dachshunds generally weigh between 16 and 32 pounds (7 to 14.5 kg), while miniature Wirehair Dachshunds typically weigh 11 pounds (5 kg) or less.